| | Published September 7th, 2016
| Girl Scouts Earn Bronze Award by Bucking Stereotypes
| | | Submitted by Allison Curletto |  | | From left, Sasha Krigel, Allison Curletto, Bettina Curletto, Ava Curletto, Andreya Cox, Dawn Manley and "Fire" |
For the past year, Junior Girl Scout Troop 33544 of Lafayette has been learning a lot about the outdoors. While following their "Get Moving" Girl Scout journey, this group of fifth-grade girls from Happy Valley and Springhill schools decided something important: Girls don't get outdoors as much as they should.
With the distractions of electronics and the stereotype that real camping and hiking is tough and scary and is a better suited for boys, girls don't get out in nature and get dirty. Troop 33544 changed that for themselves while earning the highest award a Junior Girl Scout can receive, the Bronze Award, creating a model for other girls to follow.
The girls raised funds by selling nuts, magazines and cookies so they were able to buy their camping needs as well as their journey books and skills patches. They researched and planned two field trips and a two-day camping trip to Mt. Diablo State Park. They practiced setting up tents and cooking over a fire. They met with park rangers and learned about the local geology and biology and even wrote a book detailing advice on camping and hiking spots as well as the fauna and flora of the park.
They became advocates for animals native to Mt. Diablo State Park and dedicated $200 of their fundraising money to benefit the Alexander Lindsay Wildlife Experience, experts in helping local native animals in need.
By the end of their journey, they had earned their Animal Habitat, Digital Photography, Outdoor Cooking, Camping, and First Aid skills badges as well as all components of their "Get Moving" Journey and their certificate for their Bronze Award.
They celebrated in June with a trip to the Alexander Lindsay Wildlife Experience where Dawn Manley, director of Animal Encounters, arranged a private tour and encounter with "Fire," a red tailed hawk. The girls presented their $200 gift to Manley and enjoyed a family picnic in Larkey Park.
A copy of their book is available to view through the Lafayette Service Unit of Girl Scouts.
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Lamorinda Weekly, Moraga CA